Safety attachment for car-brakes.



- PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904.

J. B. WRIGHT. SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR GAB. BRAKES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17,1903.

'no MODEL.

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. lgazgiem by i g Z ZB. my v @J llforryzys UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 190

JOHN BUNYAN WRIGHT, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CAR-BRAKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,346, dated June 21, 1904.

Application filed September 17, 1903. Serial No. 173,599. (No model.)

To a whom, it inmy concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BUNYAN WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Safety Attachment for Oar-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to air-brakes for cars, and is especially directed to a safety attachment therefor, and has for its object to produce a device of simple construction which will in the event of the car becoming derailed or of the axle or wheels breaking be automatically actuated for operating the air-brakes to stop the car.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a truck having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the car-truck comprising,preferably,longitudinal beams 2 and transverse beams 3, disposed between and connecting the ends of the longitudinal beams. This truck sustains boxes in which are journaled the axles 4c, carrying wheels 5, said parts being all of the usual or any preferred construction and material, inasmuch as they constitute no part of my invention.

6 indicates the air pipe or duct, which, as usual, extends longitudinally of and is fixed in any suitable manner beneath the car for supplying compressed air to the air-brakes. This pipe is in accordance with my invention provided at a point in substantial vertical alinement with the inner face of the beam 3 with a vertically-disposed opening 7, formed in the side wall of the pipe, the opening being of substantially semicircular form in horizontal section.

8 designates a bearing-block or member secured inany suitable manner to the pipe 6 over the opening 7, said block being provided with a semicircular opening designed to register with the opening 7 and cooperate therewith to form a circular bearing-opening 9, through which extends a vertical reciprocatory valve member 10, preferably in the form of a length of pipe-tubing, having formed through its inner side wall a pair of vertically-spaced openings 11, disposed one above and the other below the pipe 6 when the parts are in normal position, at which time the intermediate portion 12 of the tubular member will lie at rest within the bearing-opening 9 and effectually close the escape-opening 7 of the train-pipe. The upper end of member 10, which projects slightly above the bearingblock, is suitably engaged with a spring 13, secured to the latter and designed for maintaining the parts in normal position, while the lower portion of the member, which extends a suitable distance beneath the bearingblock, carries a vertically-disposed substantially rectangular clip or frame 14, which loosely embraces the beam 3, the ends 15 of the clip being arranged, respectively, above and below the beam and spaced vertically therefrom, whereby the beam will not during ordinary movements of the truck come in contact with the frame.

In practice, supposing the parts to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, if the truck becomes derailed or owing to other causes the truck moves abnormally in either an upward or downward direction the beam 3 will contact with one end of the clip 14 and move the member 10 upward or downward, as the case may be, against the action of spring 13 until one of the openings 11 moves into or partially into register with the opening 7, thus permitting escape of air from the pipe and the automatic application of the brakes.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a mechanism whereby provision is made for cutting out one of the members 10 should the same become defective. In said figure, 16 is a branch main pipe.

eratingdcvcrs whereby if circumstances require the main pipe may be closed and the branch opened, thus permitting the air to flow around the member 10, or if the parts be in proper operative condition the main will remain open and the branch be closed, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I produce a device of simple construction which will be cfiicient in operation and one which is admirably adapted for the attainment of the endsin View. It is to be understood, however, that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details herein set forth, inasmuch as. minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, it is apparent that for the tubular pipe 10 there mightbe substituted a solid rod having the spaced indentations or cut-out portions 11 without defeating the operation of the device and that such a change would not amount to a departure from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a train-pipe provided with an escape-opening, of a valve normally closing the opening, a member adapted for reciprocation in the direction of its length, said member being connected with and adapted when moved in either direction to open the valve, and means for automatically operating the member.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a train-pipe provided with an escape opening, of a two-way movable Valve normally closin'g said opening, a truck, and operative connections between the valve and truck, whereby abnormal movements of the latter either upward or downward will open the valve.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a train-pipe having an escape-opening, of a reciprocatory member normally closing the escape-opening, said member being provided with a pair of vent-openings disposed one above and the other below the escape-opening and operable for moving either vent-opening into communication with the escape-opening.

4c. In a device of the class described, the combination with a train-pipe having an escapeopening, of a reciprocatory member adapted for normally closing the escape-opening, said member having a pair of vent-openings disposed respectively on opposite sides of the escape-opening, a truck. and operative connections between the member and truck operable by abnormal upward and. downward movements of the latter for bringing one or the other of the vent-openings into communication with the escape-opening.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a car-truck, of a beam carried thereby, a train-pipe having an escapeopening, a vertically reciprocatory member mounted for normally closing the escape-opening, said member having a pair of vent-openings disposed one above and the other below the escape-opening, and a vertically-disposed clip or frame connected with the member and embracing the truck-beam.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a car-truck, of a train-pipe having an escape-opening, a vertically-reciprocatory member mounted for normally closing the escape-opening, said member having a pair of vent-openings disposed respectively on opposite sides of the escape-opening, and a rigid frame loosely embracing a portion of the truck and operatively connected with the member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BUN YAN IVRIGHT.

Witnesses:

WV. L. J'AMES, ROLAND HARRIS. 

